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Alumnus 

u n i v e r s i t y o f w i s c o n s i n - l a c r o s s e 

Winter 2008-09, Vol. 35, No. 1 

Global 

Growth 

International education is rapidly expanding

t h e v i e w f r o m t h e b l u f f 

Hong Rost, ’94 

‘It would 

have been 

impossible for 

me to turn 

down what has 

become a 

dream job.’ 

Just like family 

Decision to return to campus was simple: 

The people 

Many people like to get away from home. But for me, I wanted to come home 

— to my new home. After graduating from UW-L in 1994 with a master’s in 

education in college student personnel, my first job was at North Park 

University in Chicago. But when a position as assistant director in the UW-L Office of 

International Education was offered to me only a year later, there was one simple 

reason I jumped at the chance to return — the people. 

I had had such a wonderful experience coming from China only four years earlier. 

I made so many lasting friends and received so much help, guidance and personal 

attention from UW-L faculty and staff, especially those in the Office of International 

Education, as well as the La Crosse community. It would have been impossible for me 

to turn down what has become a dream job. 

As assistant director, I work with the same wonderful people who helped me so 

much. And, I have a wonderful opportunity to help students who have chosen my 

same academic path by coming to UW-L. 

When I broke my hip in a sledding accident my first semester, I learned very 

quickly that people at UW-L didn’t just have a professional interest in me. They 

had a personal interest as well. Many students, faculty and staff came to visit me in 

the hospital. 

The International Student Organization hosted a fundraiser to help with hospital 

bills. I was surrounded by healthcare professionals whose care and concern went far 

beyond anything I had ever experienced. 

I will never forget frequent hospital visits of the Rev. Armin Heidmann of Lutheran 

Campus Ministry. He was the first to tell me of the love of Jesus Christ. 

Also, help from my classmates enabled me to physically return to classes. The 

patience of college student personnel faculty accommodated me with my special needs 

while I recovered. 

I have found that UW-L is not so much an institution as it is a place where people 

have gathered for a common purpose to help students follow their dreams — and 

work toward achieving their goals in life. I’m grateful to be part of that. 

Hong Rost, ’94 

Assistant Director, UW-L Office of International Education

f e a t u r e s 

Snowy Wittich 

An early winter snowfall dresses up Wittich 

Hall on campus. Built in 1916, the original 

physical education building was listed in the 

National Register of Historical Places April 

11, 1985. The building is named for Walter 

Wittich, who taught in the university’s physical 

education department from 1916-1953. 

10 For the love of 

teaching 

Five generations of the Bices have been linked 

to UW-L. Find out how and why. 

42 A lasting honor 

Todd Olson, ’92, was stationed at Patrol Base 

Casino in Samarra, Iraq, with around 100 

soldiers from Wisconsin, including other UW-L 

alumni. When he was killed in the line of duty, the 

base was named after him. Get the whole story. 

w h a t ’ s h a p p e n i n g o n c a m p u s 

d e p a r t m e n t s 

What’s Happening on Campus 3 

Foundation Update 9 

Alumni News 12 

Cover Story: Global Growth 22 

Athletics 28 

La Crosse Ties 30 

Coulee Coda 42 

u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 • 3

f r o m t h e e d i t o r 

Brad Quarberg 

A traveling 

education 

Imagine marching past London’s Big Ben 

while playing “Beer Barrel Polka” and “On, 

Wisconsin.” As a person who loves marching 

bands, I never expected to have that overseas 

opportunity, but that’s what I did during 

Christmas break during my first year of college. 

It was 1981 when I came to UW-L fresh out 

of high school. UW-L offered my major. It had a 

great marching band. And it provided an 

opportunity to travel overseas — after only one 

semester into college. 

Traveling internationally during college was 

much more of a novelty back then. Today, it’s 

something much more common. And I dare 

say, relevant. 

This issue provides a look at global growth on 

campus. More international students are now 

sitting in UW-L classrooms, and students from 

the U.S. are heading overseas in record numbers. 

Students not only take trips halfway around 

the world, they also spend a semester or more 

taking classes. And when they return, the classes 

usually count toward their degree. 

International expansion is just another reason 

your alma mater continues to receive high 

rankings in national publications. And, it’s just 

one more reason to speak with pride about 

UW-La Crosse. 

Brad Quarberg, ’85 

Alumnus editor 

4 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 

Alumnus 

u n i v e r s i t y o f w i s c o n s i n - l a c r o s s e 

Winter 2008-09, Vol. 35, No. 1 

Global 

Growth 

International education is rapidly expanding 

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Alumnus 

Winter 2008-09, Vol. 35, No. 1 

The Alumnus is published in June and December for alumni 

and friends of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. 

Deadline for copy is April 1 and Oct. 1. Readers may submit 

news items to the editor in the University Relations Office, 

UW-La Crosse, 1725 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601 USA. 

608.785.8572 • quarberg.brad@uwlax.edu 

e d i t o r 


Associate Director of 

University Relations, 

University Relations Office 

a r t d i r e c t o r 

ˆ 

Sanja Dojcinovic´ 

University Print Manager, 

University Relations Office 

s t a f f w r i t e r s 

Cary Heyer 

Dave Johnson, ’92 

Sue (Sullivan) Lee, 

’82 & ’87 


Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86 

p h o t o g r a p h y 

Mark Beckerjeck, ’88 

Sue (Sullivan) Lee, 

’82 & ’87 

Jim Lund 

Brad Quarberg ’85 

e d i t o r i a l 

a s s i s t a n c e 

Cary Heyer, APR 

Director of University Relations 

Keli Highland 

Program Coordinator, 

Alumni Association 

Jeff Kerkman,’86 

Alumni Representative 

Kelly Nowicki-Van Rooyan 

’98 & ’02 

Alumni Representative 

Sara Olson 

Computer Systems Manager, 

UW-L Foundation 

Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86 

Executive Director, 

UW-L Alumni Association 

Al Trapp 

Acting President, 

UW-La Crosse Foundation 

www.uwlax.edu 

View previous issues at http://murphylibrary.uwlax.edu/digital/uwl/Alumnus/index.html 

Production of the Alumnus is supported by a grant from the UW-La Crosse Alumni Association. 

On the cover: Students participated in the 2007 inauguration procession 

with flags representing countries of homelands of those enrolled from 

overseas.

Computer Science 

department turns 40 

It was 40 years ago this past fall that Jack Storlie, right, taught the first computer science 

classes on campus. Now, it’s one of the campus’ most popular majors. In late 2007, 

Chancellor Joe Gow, left, presented a plaque to Storlie that was mounted outside 

Room 6 in Wing Technology Center. The room, called the John “Jack” Storlie Computer 

and Technology Classroom, was dedicated to Storlie for his many contributions to 

campus. Hired as an associate professor in chemistry in 1959, Storlie saw his research 

convince him computers were more than business machines. He saw their value in 

research. Storlie, the creator of the computer science department, was first director of the 

Data Processing Center, now known as Information Technology Services. 

Computer Science department in 

recent years: 

2001 — Master of Software Engineering (MSE) program initiated 

2004 — Computer Science/Engineering Dual Degree Program with the 

College of Engineering at UW-Madison begins 

2006 — MSE collaboration with South Central University of Nationalities 

2007 — Department receives the W. Carl Wimberly Founder’s Award for 

International Partnerships by the UW-L Office of International Education for 

outstanding contributions to advancing international education 

2007 — Department awarded $526,000 National Science Foundation grant 

to fund scholarships during a five-year period for full-time MSE students 

2007 — Computer Science/Master of Software Engineering Five-Year Dual 

Degree Program inaugurated 


UW-L’s 

rank climbs 

to No. 2 

UW-L again ranks among the Midwest’s 

best universities. UW-L placed No. 2 in 

U.S.News & World Report’s 2009 

“America’s Best Colleges.” 

UW-L tied with the University of 

Northern Iowa for the No. 2 spot in the 

Midwest among public universities offering 

bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Last year, 

UW-L was No. 3. When public universities 

and private colleges were combined, UW-L, 

Northern Iowa and North Central College 

(Ill.) are No. 17 among Midwest institutions. 

This is the second time UW-L was No. 2. 

In 2006, the campus also tied with Northern 

Iowa among Midwest campuses in the same 

category. The university has appeared on the 

U.S.News list each of the past 10 years and 

has been among the top three since 2002. 

In addition, the report notes in its “Great 

Schools, Great Prices” survey of Midwest 

master’s campuses that 62 percent of seniors 

who graduated from UW-L carried an 

average debt load of $12,145 — secondlowest 

on its “Debt Load, Class of 2007” list. 

U.S.News rankings system relies on 

quantitative measures that education experts 

have proposed as reliable indicators of 

academic quality, as well as a nonpartisan 

view of what matters in education. 



More 

bang for 

the buck 

Kiplinger’s lists UW-L 

a “best value” 

Kiplinger’s magazine has again 

recognized UW-L for “top-flight 

academics and affordable costs.” 

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance updated 

its list of the nation’s 100 best value public 

colleges and universities in November, 

ranking UW-L No. 38 for in-state students 

and No. 30 for out-state students. Both are 

an improvement of the magazine’s 2008 

rankings, which listed UW-L No. 39 for 

in-state and No. 38 for out-state. 

Schools that make Kiplinger’s Top 100 

list are recognized for outstanding 

academic quality plus an affordable price 

tag, magazine editors note. Rankings are 

among more than 500 public, four-year 

colleges and universities nationwide. 

The only other Wisconsin schools to 

make the 2009 Kiplinger’s Top 100: UW- 

Madison, No. 14 for in-state students, and 

UW-Eau Claire, No. 65. 

Complete rankings are available at 

www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/. 


Transfer degree with 

Western Tech approved 

The UW Board of Regents have 

approved a collaborative associate of science 

degree between UW-L and Western 

Technical College in La Crosse. The 

transfer agreement gives Western students 

who earn a two-year associate of science 

degree eligibility to transfer to UW-L, or any 

other four-year UW campus, with junior 

standing. 

“The faculty and staff at both institutions 

have been intimately involved in developing 

the curriculum for this degree,” says 

Chancellor Joe Gow. “The result is a 

transfer option that maximizes the higher 

educational resources in the western 

Wisconsin region.” 

An eagle eye 

New stadium coming into full view 

Former chancellor 

to retire 

Judith Kuipers, UW-L chancellor from 1991-2000, is retiring. 

Kuipers, the president of Fielding Graduate University since leaving 

campus, will retire in June 2009. Kuipers was instrumental in 

promoting technological improvements in classrooms and worked 

with the state and private donors to fund the Health Science Center, 

Recreational Eagle Center and renovate Murphy Library. 

The degree will be phased in over several 

years beginning in spring 2009 with a limit 

of 30 students. Considerable effort will be 

placed on academic advising with the goal of 

student success upon transfer. 

Students will enroll in the degree 

program through WTC and will complete 

about two-thirds of the courses at Western 

and one-third at UW-L. UW-L will provide 

courses in the arts, humanities, history, 

diversity, and modern languages where 

there is existing capacity for new students. 

Students completing the associate degree at 

Western will need to meet the transfer 

admission requirements. 

Want to keep up with progress of the 

new Veterans Memorial Field Sports 

Complex? Get an eagle-eye view of the 

$16.6 million project by clicking on 

www.uwlax.edu/stadiumcam. 

The site offers up-to-the second 

progress, along with construction photo 

galleries and info about the project, part 

of the UW-L Foundation’s Centennial 

Campaign. Dedication of the complex 

is Sept. 12, 2009. 

Judith Kuipers

No. 1 in the class 

Educator Greg Wegner receives kudos 

Educational Studies Professor Greg Wegner, ’71, has been recognized for his 

outstanding teaching. Wegner received the 2008 Wisconsin Richard T. Ferrell Teacher 

of Merit Award. He was one of eight nationwide given a PBS Teacher of Merit Award, 

cited for his work with National History Day in western Wisconsin for the past 15 years. 

Wegner has taught at UW-L since 1989. 

New funds 

established 

The following funds were recently established through the UW-L Foundation: 

• The Kathy Andrews Madrigrano and John & Dorothy Andrews Scholarship Fund 

provides scholarships for students in the School of Education. 

• The Jim Mack Scholarship Fund for Public Policy and Advocacy provides 

scholarships for students with majors in political science, public administration or 

economics. 

• The Nuclear Medicine Technology Alumni Scholarship Fund provides scholarships 

for students in the nuclear medicine technology program. 

• Dr. & Mrs. Larry Nutter Scholarship in Chemistry funds scholarships for students 

who major in chemistry. 

• The Thomas & Shahaireen Pellett Scholarship Fund in Biology provides 

scholarships for biology majors. 

• Donald P. Weber Veterans Memorial Scholarship supports Wisconsin veterans who 

wish to attend UW System institutions of higher learning. 

For information on these funds, or to find out how to establish a scholarship, contact the 

UW-L Foundation at 608.785.8489. 


Money in 

their 

pockets 

The average debt of UW-L graduates is 

the lowest in the state. 

A Chronicle of Higher Education released 

report says the average debt of UW-L 

graduates in 2007 was $12,145. That’s the 

lowest in the state. In comparison, the 

average debt of students who graduated from 

UW-Madison was $21,018. Graduates of 

Truman State (Mo.), consistently ranked 

one notch ahead of UW-L by U.S.News & 

World Reports, carried $17,091 in debt. The 

survey included public four-year institutions 

and private, non-profit four-year campuses. 

Chancellor Joe Gow says the report 

affirms what many already know: UW-L is an 

exceptional value. “Affordability is certainly 

one of the most important factors considered 

when selecting a university,” he notes. 

“People take notice when a prestigious 

publication like The Chronicle of Higher 

Education releases a survey that shows an 

education at UW-L is a great buy.” 

The report followed UW-L being listed 

No. 2 among Midwest master’s campuses in 

U.S. News & World Report’s “Great Schools, 

Great Prices” survey. 

According to the report, students who 

graduated from colleges in Iowa had the 

highest average debt, $26,208, while those in 

Utah had the lowest, $13,266. 



College 

student pros 

Student affairs degree goes online 

You’ve likely heard of professional students. 

But, did you know there are student 

professionals — those who like college, stay 

on campus and get paid for it? 

For more than 40 years, the UW-L Student 

Affairs Administration (SAA) in Higher Education 

graduate program has prepared those who like 

campus life and want to help students thrive in 

college. They are professional staff members in a 

variety of campus student service offices, such as 

Admissions, Advising, Career Services, Deans of 

Students, Financial Aid, International Education, 

Multicultural Services, Registrars, Residence Life 

and Student Unions. 

Since the mid-’60s, more than 500 graduate 

students have come to campus to earn master’s 

degrees in the two-year program. But since May 

2007, students have had the option of earning their 

degree online. In fact, the online program, 

accredited by the Higher Learning Commission in 

October 2007, is one of the only accredited online 


www.uwlax.edu/100years 

student affairs programs 

nationwide. 

“Our online 

curriculum is geared 

toward individuals 

currently working in a 

higher education setting 

as demonstrated by our 

class discussions, activities and assignments,” 

explains SAA Program Director Jodie Rindt. “Our 

current students have indicated that a strength of 

the online program is the sharing of information 

and experiences from other campuses and the 

engaging presence of our faculty.” 

The first online class of 12 students will pick up 

their degrees in spring. It includes students from all 

over the country (Alaska, California, Maine and 

Virginia to name a few states) as well as Germany. 

While the new, online program is off to a successful 

student, others still opt for the more traditional 

program based on campus. It is aimed at those who 

It’s 

time to 

celebrate 

Old Main opened its doors for the first time in 

fall 1909. Next fall, it’s time to remember the 

university’s history. A variety of activities are 

planned for the celebration, culminating with 

special events during Family, Friends and 

Alumni Weekend, Oct. 23-25, including a gala 

that “will immerse you in the past 100 years.” 

Watch for details! 

The following UW-L groups and organizations plan to attend the Centennial Celebration: Class of ’59, 

football team of ’59, Silver Eagles and Beta Sigma Chi Alumni Group. If you would like your campus group 

to join the Centennial Celebration, please call the Alumni Association at 608.785.8490. 

Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education Program on-campus 

student Kristin Van Vleet, ’08, left, is doing a graduate assistantship in 

the program’s Graff Main Hall Office with Program Director Jodie Rindt. 

In May 2007, the program began offering an online option in addition to 

the 40-year-old traditional on-campus studies. 

have little or no experience in higher education 

settings. 

“You get to know your classmates well and 

work together as a group,” notes Kristin Van Vleet, 

’08, an on-campus student who is doing a graduate 

assistantship with program director Rindt. “All our 

professors hold jobs in their fields, so they bring a 

very relevant aspect to the program.” 

Applications for the online program are 

accepted through Feb. 1, while those for the oncampus 

program are due Feb. 15. Get more 

information about the program at 

www.uwlax.edu/saa.

Students in UW-L’s Symphony Orchestra 

get to play some of the best instruments 

in the world, thanks to the generosity of 

one of the finest trumpeters in the world. 

In 2007, Adolph “Bud” Herseth, principal 

trumpeter in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 

from 1948 to 2001, donated three instruments 

to UW-L’s orchestra — a trumpet in C, a 

piccolo trumpet and a cornet — all made at one 

of the leading manufacturers in the world, 

Chicago’s Schilke Music Co. 

Herseth is Alden “Buz” Hoefer’s former 

father-in-law and donated the instruments after 

his retirement from the Chicago Symphony 

Orchestra. Hoefer was UW-L’s Symphony 

Orchestra conductor from 1991 to 2000 and 

2004-06. 

“Bud is considered the best trumpet player 

of the second half of the 20th century,” notes 

Hoefer. “He was a principal trumpet player of a 

major symphony orchestra longer that anyone 

in history. He was the first trumpet player 

elected to the trumpet hall of fame.” 

Herseth was the central figure of “Trumpet 

Fest,” held at UW-L in May 2005, that brought 

trumpet players from all over the country to pay 

tribute to Herseth’s contribution to trumpet 

performance. 

f o u n d a t i o n u p d a t e 

Adolph “Bud” Herseth, principal 

trumpeter in the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra from 1948 

to 2001, donated three 

instruments to the orchestra. 

Among the UW-L group going to 

Chicago’s Schilke Music Co. to 

get the instruments and meet the 

donor were, from left, front: 

Schilke Music Co. President 

Andrew Naumann; Herseth; 

former UW-L student Steven W. 

Ehrhardt and UW-L student Jacob 

Leonard, both trumpeters in 

UW-L’s 2006-07 Symphony 

Orchestra. Back row, from left, 

Jon Faddis, trumpet player and 

music director of the Chicago 

Jazz Ensemble; Alden “Buz” 

Hoefer, UW-L Symphony 

Orchestra conductor from 1991- 

2000 and 2004-06; and Enaldo 

Oliveira, music director and UW-L 

Symphony Orchestra conductor 

since 2006. 

Big talents, big hearts 

Continuing a legacy of excellence 

By Sue (Sullivan) Lee, ’82 & ’87 

Enaldo Oliveira, UW-L’s Symphony 

Orchestra conductor and music director since 

2006, appreciates the value of the instruments, 

as well as the prominence of the donor. “Bud 

Herseth defined what it is to play trumpet,” he 

explains. “He was one of the leading trumpet 

players in the world.” 

In May 2007, a group from UW-L traveled 

to Schilke to receive the instruments. Oliveira, 

along with Hoefer and two UW-L students met 

Herseth, Schilke Music Co. President Andrew 

Naumann, and Jon Faddis, considered one of 

the best trumpet players in Chicago. 



To learn more about UW-L’s Centennial 

For Campaign and the new academic building, 

visit www.uwlfoundation.org. 

Above, top: Daisy Bice, a 1912 graduate of the 

La Crosse Normal School, started a family tradition. 

Since she attended classes on campus, 11 other 

Bice family members have attended UW-L. 

Above: Myrtle Bice, ’16, a Wonewoc, Wis., 

elementary school teacher is the person the Bice 

family credits with being the matriarch who fostered 

a zeal for learning and discovery. The family is 

honoring her with a $10,000 contribution to fund a 

study area in the university’s new academic 

building, “Centennial Hall.” 

1 0 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 

the love 

of teaching 

Bice family honors 1916 graduate with 

$10,000 gift to Centennial Hall 

By Cary Heyer 

For five generations, the name “Bice” 

has become inextricably linked to 

UW-L. Small wonder why. 

Starting with Daisy Bice, a 1912 

graduate of the La Crosse Normal School 

and aunt of veteran Wisconsin Legislator 

Raymond Bice, Sr., 12 members of the 

Bice family have attended UW-L. Of 

those, nine have pursued careers in 

education, including Ray Jr., who alone 

taught 27,000 students over 60 years at 

Charlottesville (Va.) University. 

Teaching, one may rightfully conclude, 

is part of the Bice family’s DNA. 

So it’s not surprising that the Bices 

stepped forward with a $10,000 

contribution to fund a study area in the 

new academic building in honor of 

mother and grandmother Myrtle Bice, ’16. 

The Wonewoc, Wis. elementary school 

teacher and wife of Ray Sr. is the person 

the family credits with being the matriarch 

who fostered a zeal for learning and 

discovery. 

However, Myrtle’s grandson Phil Bice, 

who teaches accounting at UW-L, is quick 

to point out that Grandfather Ray played 

an important role in instilling the value of 

higher education among his descendants. 

“He was a very successful individual 

but was unable to attend high school in 

1910 because of work and family,” Phil 

recounts. “He did not obtain a GED until 

his youngest son graduated from high 

school in 1943. I am sure during that time 

he was raising his family and observing his 

wife, a (La Crosse) Normal School 

graduate, advance his children 

academically. He was convinced of the 

importance of education.” 

All four of Myrtle and Ray’s children 

went on to receive a master’s degree and 

one holds a doctorate. The next 

generation finds three of six grandchildren 

— and many of their spouses — in front 

of the classroom. 

Their gift is a tangible expression of the 

value the Bice family places in education. 

“The new academic building will help 

fulfill UW-L’s educational mission and be 

a much-needed update to the university 

property dedicated to academics,” Phil 

says. “The classrooms of the next century 

will be much different than our first, and 

these differences will require continued 

investment by all of us.”

A lasting 

tribute 

Scholarship honors local PT pioneer 

By Brad Quarberg, ’85 

The respect and friendship of a 

fellow soldier and prominent 

La Crosse doctor led a 

Norwegian physical therapist to the 

Coulee Region. And his love for the 

La Crosse area will allow his story to 

live on as part of a scholarship 

endowed through the UW-La Crosse 

Foundation. 

Carsten Christiansen met Thorolf 

Gundersen when they served together 

in a World War II ski battalion. The 

99th Infantry Battalion was unique. It 

consisted of native-born Norwegians 

or those with a working knowledge of 

the Norwegian language. And they had 

to know how to ski and snowshoe. 

The 99th was trained to drop in the 

mountains of Norway to overtake an 

expected Nazi invasion. But when the 

invasion didn’t materialize, the 99th 

was sent into action in Belgium, France 

and Germany. One-third of the 

original unit was killed in action. 

When soldiers returned to the 

United States, Gundersen encouraged 

Christiansen to join him at the 

Gundersen Clinic in La Crosse. 

Christiansen started the clinic’s 

physical therapy department in 1946. 

He stayed there until retiring 

in 1962. 

Christiansen’s wife, ZeDona, has 

honored her husband who died in 

1984 by establishing a scholarship for 

phsycial therapy students at UW-L. 

The Carsten and ZeDona Christiansen 

Memorial Scholarship for Phyiscal 

Therapy will award a deserving 

sophomore or junior at least $500. 

“We’re very fortunate and grateful 

for the family’s generosity for this 

endowment,” says Al Trapp, interim 

president of the UW-L Foundation. 

“It’s a wonderful way to honor such a 

prominent local physical therapist and 

his wife. And it has a story that will 

inspire deserving students for years and 

years to come.” 

ZeDona Christiansen died Aug. 15, 

2008. But she and her husband’s 

stories live. 


Carsten Christiansen, a physical therapist at 

Gundersen Clinic in La Crosse from 1946-1962, 

helped thousands of patients during his career. A 

memorial scholarship established by his wife, 

ZeDona, will help UW-L physical therapy students 

for years to come. 

u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 • 1 1

a l u m n i n e w s 

Generous gift 

Alumni Association pledges $25,000 for “Centennial Campaign” 

The UW-L Alumni Association was one of the first groups to commit to the 

UW-L Foundation’s Centennial Campaign. Now, the association’s Board of 

Directors has approved a second pledge of $25,000 to support the new 

academic building, “Centennial Hall.” 

“Facilitating partnerships is one of our core values,” notes Janie 

Spencer, ’85 & ’86, executive director of the association. “The association 

believes in partnering with the university, foundation, students, alumni and 

friends of UW-L. This pledge reaffirms the Alumni Association’s 

commitment to UW-L, to public higher education, to our students and the 

alumni of this great institution.” 

1 2 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9

Pay it forward 

Membership campaign going strong 

Thousands of alumni 

have already joined. Many 

have shared personal 

stories of UW-L’s impact 

on their lives. Some alums 

have volunteered to help 

Tracy Machtan, ’07 with events. Others have 

sent encouraging messages 

to current students. 

All are wonderful ways to help your alma mater 

“Pay it Forward,” says UW-L Alumni Association 

Executive Director Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86. She often 

hears from enthusiastic alums like Tracy Machtan, ’07 

from Bloomington, Ill., who recently wrote: “I want to 

make sure I’m a member in good standing. In fact, as 

soon as I can afford it, I want to purchase a lifetime 

membership. It’s the least I can do for the school that 

helped me become the person I’ve always wanted to be. 

Please let me know if there’s anything I can ever do to 

help you, the Association, 

or UW-L!” 

“Tracy is a recent graduate who understands the 

importance of doing a good deed to help others,” says 

Spencer. “Membership in the Alumni Association is the 

best way to stay connected while supporting programs 

that strengthen UW-La Crosse.” 

Spencer encourages you to encourage alums who 

aren’t members to join. Find out how at: 

www.uwlalumni.org 


Hawaii 

reunion 

This group of UW-L alumni 

recently celebrated the 40th 

anniversary of their trip to the 

Hawaiian Islands in August 1968. 

Those who took the trip, 

organized by then director of the 

Alumni Office Eleanor Kennedy, 

continue to get together at least 

twice a year. In the group were, 

from left, Joan Doescher, ’56; 

Howard Mills, ’66; Eleanor 

Kennedy, ’64 & ’76; Ken 

Abraham, ’63 & ’68 and Mary 

Abraham. (Not pictured is 

Nancy Mills.) 





2008-09 

Board of Directors 

The UW-L Alumni Association recognizes 

those who will serve as its 2008-09 

board of directors. 

Anne Grayson, ’86 

Officers: 

Anne Grayson, ’86; President, Onalaska 

Marlin Helgeson, ’78; Vice President, La Crosse 

Julie Schwingel, ’85; Treasurer, Rio 

Jennifer Shilling, ’92; Past President, La Crosse 

Janie Spencer, ’85 & ’86; Executive Director, Holmen 

Directors: 

Jill Blokhuis, ’88, La Crosse 

Jeff Bryant, ’80, La Crosse 

Amy DuPont, ’01, Onalaska 

Trish Harman, ’95, West Salem 

Karrie Jackelen, ’94, La Crosse 

Adam Mueller, ’03, La Crosse 

Ken Schmocker, ’75, Onalaska 

Ron Stadler, ’86, Port Washington 

Karla Stanek, ’75 & ’80, La Crosse 

Jackie Strutt, ’76 & ’80, Onalaska 

Jim Warren, ’75, Onalaska 

Antoiwana Williams, ’00 & ’04, La Crosse 

Alumni Network Representatives: 

Chris Bowron, ’99; Rochester Network, 

Rochester, Minn. 

Lisa Butterfield, ’83; Alumni Band Network, La Crosse 

Jamie Durocher, ’98; Delta Sigma Phi Network, 

La Crescent, Minn. 

Dave Fink, ’85; Madison Network, Middleton 

Paul Hoiland, ’96; ROTC Network, Rockford, Minn. 

Fred Monk, ’64; Beta Sigma Chi Network, La Crosse 

Greg Natyshak, ’00; Twin Cities Network, 

Savage, Minn. 

Jim Prudhome, ’70; Silver Eagles Network, La Crosse 

Corey Sjoquist, ’96 & ’03; Residence Life Network, 

West Salem 

Alicia Stratman, ’97; Milwaukee Network, Franklin 

Brad Williams, ’77; Theatre Network, La Crosse 

Staff/Student Representatives: 

Leah Gullickson, Student Alumni Ambassador 

Representative, Wausau 

Keli Highland, Program Coordinator, La Crosse 

Mandy Nogle, ’08, Program Assistant 

Al Trapp, UW-L Foundation Liaison, La Crosse

Things to do 

The UW-L Alumni Association 2009 

Calendar of Events 

January 

9 Membership Committee meeting, campus 

15 Finance Committee meeting, campus 

23 Executive Committee meeting, campus 

26 Classes resume 

February 

4 UW-L Alumni Association Board meeting, 

Madison 

4 Political Science & Public Administration 

event, Madison 


6 UW-L Foundation Board meeting, campus 

20 Inverary Classic, Tampa 

25 Etiquette Dinner, campus 

25 Career Expo, campus 

25 L-Club luncheon at Outback Steakhouse, 

Onalaska 

March 


13 - 22 Spring break 


Onalaska 

30 Countdown to Commencement, campus 

April 


16 Finance Committee meeting, campus 

17 Executive Committee meeting, campus 


Onalaska 

27 UW-L Foundation honors reception, 

campus 

May 


2 UW-L Alumni Association Board meeting, 

campus 


Onalaska 

15 UW-L Foundation Board meeting, campus 

15 Alumni Awards program, campus 

16 Commencement 

16 Student Alumni Ambassador flower sale 

September 

12 Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex 

dedication 

13 Athletic Wall of Fame banquet, campus 

25 - Oct. 3 Oktoberfest 

October 

23 - 25 UW-L Centennial Celebration weekend 

Get details at www.uwlalumni.org or 

by calling 608.785.8495. 



We will use this spine layout if your book turns out to be thinner than the larger spine layout. 

isconsin La Crosse—Hardbound Edition C 


Directory coming 

Alumni Association to print 

centennial edition 

A soon-to-be-printed book will 

list the university’s alumni, along 

with providing a brief historical 

overview. 


Executive Director Janie Spencer, 

’85 & ’86, says despite the 

popularity of the association’s 

technology-based resources, it’s 

important to publish a printed 

directory. 

“The Alumni Association is 

partnering with Harris Connect to 

preserve campus traditions and 

create not only an alumni directory, 

but also a historical reference book 

to celebrate the university’s 100th 

anniversary,” says Spencer. 

“Alumni Today - Centennial 

edition, 1909-2009,” will have an 

expanded classnotes section, along 

with a photo gallery where alums 

can submit their favorite photo. If 

you haven’t already replied, please 

do and you’ll be included in this 

historical record for the campus. 

The directory will be printed 

and ready for distribution in spring 

2009. Refer questions to Harris at 

800.877.6554 or the Alumni 

Association at 877.UWL.ALUM. 

Next stop: Europe 

High-speed train tour includes stops in England, France and Belgium 


Back Cover Gutter Spine Gutter 

Front Cover 

Alumni: Today 2009 

2009 

Alumni: Today 

CENTENNIAL ENTENNIAL 

EDITION DD 

ITION 

1909 - 2009 

The UW-L Alumni Association’s next tour is 

“Europe by Train.” The nine-day trip features stays in 

London, England; Paris, France; and Brussels, Belgium. 

Travelers will take the Eurostar high-speed train from 

London to Paris, and the high-speed Thalys train from 

Paris to Brussels. The package includes panoramic 

tours in the three cities, along with a full-day excursions 

of Belgium and to Maastricht, The Netherlands. Nine 

meals are included, along with hotel stays. Optional 

excursions in each country are available. The cost for 

July departure from Minneapolis is $3,408 per person. 

For more information, call 877.UWL.ALUM. 

C 

E 

1909 

- 20099

Another success 

A total of 132 golfers, along with sponsors and volunteers, 

made the 2008 Chancellor’s Golf Outing in August a 

success. The event raised more $11,000 to benefit the 

UW-L Alumni Association. Mark your calendar for this year’s 

golf outing, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. 

A l u m n i n e w s 

Top, left: From left, Larry 

Lebiecki, ’62, former Chancellor 

Ken Lindner and Don Vingers 

were among those who enjoyed 

a beautiful day on the links 

during the Chancellor’s Golf 

Outing in August. 

Left: The outing’s only 

women’s-only team took a break 

for this photo. They included, 

from left, Deb Veglahn, ’99; Kaye 

Schendel, ’04; Karla Stanek, ’75 

& ’80; Angie Lee and Paula 

Knudson. 



1 

2 3 

‘Homecoming’ 

highlights 

1 8 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • w i n t e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 


1. TOGETHER AGAIN: Members of the Class of ’58 enjoy time together at an all-alumni 

social. Among them, from left, Linda (Lehman) Kouzes, Delavan; Marilyn (Ocasek) 

Sullivan, Breckenridge, Colo.; Carol (Ringhardt) Bantley, La Crosse; and Mary Lou 

Thornburg, Needham Heights, Mass. 2. THE CLASS OF ’58: Alumni returning for their 

50th reunion took time to pose of for a class picture. 3. EAGLE-EYE SUPPORTER: The 

UW-L eagle works the sidelines of the Homecoming football game, played at Winona 

(Minn.) State University because of construction of the Veterans Memorial Field Sports 

Complex. 4. UW-L RAH: The UW-L cheerleaders helped lead calls for a UW-L victory over 

UW-Platteville. The Eagles won the game, 37-6. 5. SERIOUS TALK: College of Business 

Administration alumni returned to campus for the annual “Take an Eagle to Lunch” to talk 

with students about post-graduation expectations. 6. GET READY FOR SOME 

SCREAMIN’:The UW-L Screaming Eagles prepare to take the field for their annual 

Homecoming halftime show. 7. A PRESIDENTIAL PITCH: UW-L Alumni Association 

President Anne Grayson, ’86, speaks at Friday’s Clock Tower Kick-off. 8. FRIENDS FOR 

MORE THAN 50: Class of ’50 alumni and their spouses had a good time reminiscing — 

and posing for a picture or two. 



2 0 • u w - l a c r o s s e a l u m n u s • sw ui nm tm e r 2 0 0 8 - 0 9 

Six added to 

Wall of Fame 

Six former student-athletes 

inducted into university’s 

Wall of Fame 

UW-L’s Wall of Fame pays tribute to former athletes and coaches for their 

exceptional ability and enhancement of school tradition. To nominate alumni, 

visit: www.uwlax.edu/athletics/traditions/wallfame. Biographies of the 

2008 inductees: 

Gene Conger, ’60 

Gene Conger lit up the Memorial Field scoreboard — in football and track. In 1959, the 

physical science and physical education major earned Little All-American Team 

honorable mention football honors, along with conference scoring and rushing titles. 

He was first-team all conference and the team’s MVP. His 24 points scored in a game 

still ranked fourth (tied with seven others) in UW-L all-time scoring in a single game 

prior to the 2008 season. In track, he finished second in a conference meet long jump. 

Conger lettered in both sports all four years. He taught and coached at Park Falls, 

Elkhorn, Hortonville and Muskego, where he retired as middle school principal in 1995. 

He and his wife, Ginny, live in Oshkosh. They have three grown children. 

Stan Johnson, ’85 

For more than two decades, Stan Johnson’s 98-yard pass reception from Quarterback 

Bob Krepfle has remained the longest passing play in school history. That pass in a game 

against UW-Stevens Point in 1984 was just one of many Johnson made in a career that 

set records and took him to the pros. Entering the 2008 season, Johnson is still second 

with the most receiving yards (980) for a season, and third in a game (221 yards) in a 

1983 playoff game against Occidental College, the largest come-from-behind victory in 

NAIA II history (UW-L won 43-42). After graduating, the marketing major was a free 

agent for the Chicago Bears in 1985 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1986. He was the last 

receiver cut by both. Johnson played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian 

Football League in 1986-87, and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts in 1987-88 before 

suffering a career-ending knee injury. Johnson, a salesman with Sealed Air Corp., lives in 

New London with his wife, Kari, and three sons.

Jennifer Wilson Meyers, ’97 

Jennifer Meyers made more than a splash in her four years on the swim team. From 

1991-95, Meyers set numerous school record in relays, as well as earning All-American 

honors in eight events. She was the 200 freestyle conference champ in ’92-’93, and the 

500 freestyle conference champ in ’93-’94. Meyers took the conference Female 

Swimming Scholar Athlete of the year honor in 1995, served as team captain in 

’94-’95, and was team MVP twice. She taught and coached boy’s varsity swimming 

for Watertown-Oconomowoc from 1997-2000, helping to advance 14 swimmers to 

state. The stay-at-home mom lives in Watertown with her husband, Steven, and their 

three children. 

Ajamu Olaniyan, ’93 

Ajamu Olaniyan is the university’s all-time triple jumper — and holds that honor in the 

conference too. Olaniyan, who competed in college as Dean Cash, still owns conference 

indoor and outdoor records in the triple jump. He and teammate Bill Schroeder are the 

only Eagles to break the 51-feet barrier. Olaniyan holds the outdoor school record in the 

triple jump, including the Veterans Memorial Field Complex record. No other jumper at 

UW-L has won as many titles in the triple jump. He was part of teams that won national 

championships in indoor and outdoor events in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He was also on 

teams that brought home eight conference titles. Olaniyan is a middle school teacher and 

coach with Milwaukee Public Schools. He lives in Milwaukee with his wife, Karissa, and 

their five children. 

William Robert Rediske, ’86 

William Rediske helped the cross country and track teams outrun the competition in the 

early ’80s. The public administration-political science major helped the harriers post 

conference championships from 1982-85, including a perfect score of 15 at the 1983 

conference championship. He and the other runners competed in four NAIA national 

meets, finishing as high as second in 1985 and no lower than fourth. Individually, 

Rediske finished as an All-American in ’84 and ’85. In track, Rediske helped the team 

earn indoor and outdoor conference titles from ’83-’86. He set a school record in the 

3,000-meter steeple chase during nationals at Memorial Field, placing fifth overall. He 

was an All-American in the event in ’85 and ’86. Rediske is a podiatrist for the U.S. Army 

at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He and his wife Kelly, ’91, have four 

children. 

Angela Elise Riniker, ’95 

Angela Riniker came very close to not becoming a national champion — not because of 

ability, but because of injury and burn-out. The Sparta High School state hurdle 

champion had high hopes of collegiate success, but that goal came crashing down when 

she was injured her freshman year. The stress of collegiate athletics got to her, so she quit. 

But after a year, she put her spikes back on at the urging of her brother, Wade, and 

focused on the 400-meter hurdles and mile relay. In her senior year, that paid off when 

she won the 400-meter hurdles NCAA III championship. Riniker also ran to numerous 

conference titles in hurdles and relays, and a school record in the 400-meter hurdles at 

nationals. The business administration major lives in Woodbury, Minn., where she is vice 

president of Fenix Metals, and works for Optum Health and Coldwell Banker. 


u wu- lw a - lc a r co rs os e s sa e l ua ml un mu ns u• s w• i ns tu em r m e2 r 0 02 80 - 0 9 8 • 2 1

c o v e r s t o r y 

China. Uganda. 

Iceland. Japan. Saudi 

Arabia. Those are just five places 

UW-L students call home in an ever-growing 

global student body. 

Education has always aimed to open new worlds 

to students. Now, the world is more open to students. 

Students used to learn about other countries and 

cultures through books. In the digital age, books are passé. 

Today, students easily access the Internet to read — or see 

— what is going on around the world anytime. 

With nearly 400 international students studying on 

campus, it’s even easier for UW-L students to strike up a 

conversation with one of their classmates to find out about 

another country. 

Or, they head overseas for a semester and return with 

credits that count toward graduation and an experience 

that changes them forever. Another option, they find an 

internship in another country and return with a more 

global perspective. 

As the end of the first decade of the millennium nears, 

the world is at the doorstep for today’s students. 

Early roots 

International students have been on campus for much 

of the university’s 100-year history. In 1962, the first 

meeting of the International Student Organization was 

held. About 20 years later, the university opened an 

international education office and, during its 75th 

anniversary in 1984, launched a major drive to strengthen 

and expand the international dimensions of its educational 

programs. 

“The significance of this action during a time of severe 

strain on our financial, physical and personnel resources 

demonstrates a firm commitment to international studies 

and foreign language training as a critical component of 

university education,” said Chancellor Noel Richards at 

the 

time of 

the expansion. 

“It is also a mark of our 

transition from a normal 

school to a comprehensive 

university.” 

In 1982, the university enrolled 49 international 

students. By 1998, that had increased to 140. And by 

fall 2008, nearly 400 students from almost 50 

countries were enrolled. 

A Travel and International Education Committee 

report in 1983 listed two university-sponsored study 

abroad opportunities — the Denmark International 

Study program and the International Student 

Exchange Program. By the mid-90s, 121 students were 

studying abroad. (See table on page 27.) During the 

2007-08 academic year, 510 students headed overseas 

to study. 

The growth hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Institute of 

International Education ranked UW-L 23rd nationally 

for numbers of students studying abroad. 

Recruiting, national attention spark increase 

There’s good reason for the growth in international 

students calling UW-L home. “The increase is due to 

long-term international recruiting efforts,” explains Jay 

Lokken, director of International Studies. “We’ve been 

very successful implementing a multi-faceted approach to 

continued on page 24 

Global Gro 

International education is rapidly expand 


By Brad Quarber

wth 

g, ’85 

ing


“To ignore our 

international ties 

and needs would 

reduce our quality 

of life. We are not 

an island, and 

can’t pretend that 

we are.” 

Marketing Professor 

Stephen Brokaw 


continued from page 22 

recruiting. We have a recruiter based in China and a strategic 

plan for international recruiting.” 

Lokken says high rankings in U.S.News & World Report 

(No. 2 among Midwest public colleges) and Kiplinger’s (No. 30 

for out-state students nationally) have increased UW-L’s 

reputation worldwide. Those kudos, along with a smaller 

campus atmosphere often gives UW-L an edge over larger, Big 

Ten-sized schools. “We’re able to personalize the relationship 

here at UW-La Crosse,” notes Lokken. “We offer a chance to 

interact in the daily life of a typical Wisconsin family.” 

Along with a friendly campus, the La Crosse Friends of 

International Students, an organization that connects local 

families and international students, has helped make students 

feel at home and adjust to American culture. “The international 

students are very curious about American life,” notes Richard 

Smith, LFIS president. “Most of their ideas about American 

lifestyles come from the media. Being a host is a good way to 

help present what we really are.” 

The open house atmosphere is key for the international 

students. “These have been extremely popular with our 

international students,” says Hong Rost, assistant director in the 

International Education Office. “The community and campus 

are really so welcoming to international students.” 

But it’s not only more students coming to campus. More 

American students are heading overseas too, something Lokken 

also attributes to UW-L’s ever-growing reputation. “The 

increase in study abroad students is also due to UW-L’s excellent 

reputation for being a global university,” explains Lokken. 

“UW-L attracts students who are expecting an international 

experience as part of their undergraduate and graduate 

education.” 

Lokken says as the world continues to change into a global 

economy, first-hand international knowledge becomes even 

more important. “Wisconsin students need to be exposed to the 

world,” he concludes. 

Overseas classes, and more 

Students attend colleges overseas in both English-speaking 

based institutions, or those in the country’s native language. 

Mandy Nogle, ’08, spent five months in 2007 at the American 

University of Rome. She earned 15 credits in five classes; all 

transferred when she returned to La Crosse. While classes were 

taught in English, Nogle also took an Italian language class that 

allowed her to navigate more easily throughout Italy. 

The communication studies major says life in another 

country was more than she expected. “To experience a situation 

where you’re a minority is very challenging, but rewarding,” 

explains Nogle, who grew up in Mondovi, a rural Wisconsin 

community of around 2,500. “It definitely made me more aware 

continued on page 26

1 2 

3 4 


1. AN INTERNATIONAL PARADE: Students carry 

flags of countries representing the homelands of those 

enrolled from overseas during the inauguration 

procession in fall 2007. 

2. AN INTERNATIONAL TASTE: UW-L international 

students frequently serve up tastes of their homelands 

for the campus and local community. 

3. DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS WORLD AFFAIRS: 

Jay Lokken, director of the UW-L International 

Education Office, has overseen a rapidly growing 

program on campus since the mid-’90s. 

4. AN ITALIAN INTERLUDE: Mandy Nogle, ’08, spent 

five months living and learning in Rome before she 

graduated. Nogle was just one of an ever-growing 

group of students who study overseas for a firsthand 

international experience. 



Bringing the 

world a little 

closer 

If you live near La Crosse, it’s easy 

learn more about worldwide cultures 

while helping international students. 

The La Crosse Friends of 

International Students organization 

continuously looks for host families 

for international students attending 

UW-L, Viterbo University and 

Western Technical College. The 

students don’t live with residents, but 

the American hosts invite them to 

their homes occasionally for meals 

(especially holidays), provide rides, 

or take them on area tours or an 

American event. 

“The whole idea for the exchange 

is to help the international students 

experience American culture, and for 

the host families to better understand 

their international student’s culture,” 

says Richard Smith, president of 

LFIS. “It’s a wonderful opportunity 

and a great program.” 

For more information, contact 

Smith at rsmith@acegroup.cc. 


continued from page 24 

of how America is perceived and how it looks on the other side 

of the world.” 

Nogle, who has worked in the University Relations and 

Alumni Association offices since graduating in August, says the 

experience has encouraged her to see more of the world. “It 

instilled a life-long passion to travel,” she says. 

While some of the overseas study programs are in traditional 

college classrooms, others are more adventurous. 

Business education is increasingly emphasizing curriculum 

development along the principles of sustainability and corporate 

responsibility, particularly in developing countries like Tanzania. 

Economics Professor Donna Anderson believes students should 

have an opportunity to learn and experience, if only briefly, how 

the rest of the world lives. That is why she led a study tour to the 

African country in January 2008. 

“An international experience is a tremendous opportunity to 

learn about other cultures, other perspectives, other people and 

about ourselves,” explains Anderson. “It has the potential of truly 

changing the way we think, which is what a quality education 

experience is designed to do. It adds another dimension to what 

occurs in the classroom.” 

Benjamin Chartier, a sociology major with a minor in 

business administration and anthropology, was one of the 

students traveling. He says learning about the everyday life of 

Africans was eye-opening. 

“It taught me not to be so selfish and to put others before 

me,” he says. “When I don’t get something I want here, I can just 

think about all of the things the Africans want and need but can’t 

have.” 

More than a trip 

Getting a global perspective is much more than simply a 

chance to travel the world. It has become critical for today’s 

students to take part in international studies, says Marketing 

Professor Stephen Brokaw. 

“This country has never been self-sufficient,” explains 

Brokaw. “We have always relied on trade with others to balance 

out our needs. To ignore our international ties and needs would 

reduce our quality of life. We are not an island, and can’t pretend 

that we are.” 

Brokaw says students who take part in international 

experiences speak highly of the opportunities. “On a personal 

level most will tell you it was the greatest thing they ever did, 

once they got to where they were going,” says Brokaw. 

“Professionally, it has made all the difference to some of them. 

Without it, they would not be who they are today.”

An international influencer 

Rost works to give campus a global flavor 

Hong Rost knows what it’s like moving to a 

foreign country as an apprehensive college 

student. She was one of them — from 

central China — in the early ’90s. Now, she helps 

bring others from nearly 50 countries to campus 

and arranges study-abroad opportunities for 

American students . 

As assistant director in the International 

Education Office, Rost works with campus colleges 

and departments to start and expand international 

programming. Her work earned her the 2008 

Academic Staff Excellence Award from her peers. 

Much has changed since Rost began in the 

International Education Office as a graduate 

student intern. 

The number of students studying abroad has 

grown to more than 500. The university now has 30 

exchange partners, up from half a dozen. And the 

number of international students on campus has 

expanded to nearly 400. 

The expansion is necessary in a more global 

world, explains Rost. “We try to bring the world to 

La Crosse,” she explains. “This gives our students an 

opportunity to learn about different cultures they 

may eventually experience in their careers. It’s not a 

luxury anymore, it’s become a necessity.” 

International students benefit 

campus climate, local economy 

UW-L’s international students contributed $6.13 million 

to the campus and area in 2007-08 according to a 

NAFSA Association of International Educators report on 

international students’ contribution to the U.S. economy. 

Although the economic impact of international 

student is impressive and critical, UW-L Director of 

International Education Jay Lokken says international 

students on campus have an even a greater impact on 

ensuring the campus, community and Wisconsin are 

internationalized. 

“To be competitive in today’s global environment, 

organizations must be internationally focused,” Lokken 

explains. “Students who aren’t exposed to the world 

Rost is proud to be part of a team effort by 

International Education Office staff. They pick up 

students at the airport. They help students when 

they become sick. And since 9-11, they make sure 

proper paperwork is filed so students don’t find 

their stays shorter than expected. 

“I understand the difficulty they run into and 

what they are going through living in a new 

country,” says Rost. “That’s why we’re here, to help 

them adjust to the U.S.” 

Rost has impacted hundreds of students 

worldwide — and she has hand-written and e-mail 

thank yous to prove it. But she gets much from 

them as well. “I love students,” Rost says. “They 

enrich my life every day.” 

The office’s team atmosphere provides 

groundwork for happy international students and 

an ever-growing program. Rost credits office 

colleagues for receiving the Academic Staff 

Excellence Award. “There’s no way to achieve this 

goal by myself,” she notes. “My office provided the 

teamwork.” 

around them are going to find it difficult to compete in 

today’s job market, as well as in solving the critical issues 

facing the world today. We have an amazing opportunity 

to learn from international students and scholars 

firsthand about other cultures and languages, and to 

learn more about how the world views the United 

States.” 

The nearly 400 international students and visiting 

scholars on campus make UW-L a more culturally 

diverse and global environment for learning, he says. 

UW-L is the third largest international program in the UW 

System, following UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. 

The Hong Rost 

File 

• Assistant director of the Office of 

International Education since 1995. 

• Campus service: has obtained 

more than $300,000 in grants for 

international students; member of 

various Academic Staff Council 

committees. 

• Community service: La Crosse 

Luoyang Sister City Association; 

International Committee of the City 

of La Crosse; foreign language 

services for area businesses. 

• Holds a master of science in 

education, college student 

personnel, from UW-L in 1994. 

Also, a graduate certificate from 

Luoyang Institute of Technology 

and a bachelor of arts from Henan 

Normal University, both in Henan 

Province, China. 

Learning overseas 

The number of UW-L students who study abroad 

grows each year. The numbers: 

Academic Year Students studying overseas 

1997-98 121 

1998-99 170 

1999-2000 183 

2000-01 275 

2001-02 262 

2002-03 275 

2003-04 262 

2004-05 376 

2005-06 423 

2006-07 396 

2007-08 510 

Source: UW-L International Education Office 


a t h l e t i c s 

Top notch 

UW-L studentathletes 

tops in 

class too 

As a UW-L alum, you already know of the 

university’s proud athletic tradition. Year 

in, year out, our student-athletes 

traditionally bring home conference 

championships, not to mention national 

titles. But did you know those same 

student-athletes win in the classroom 

as well? 

According to the Wisconsin 

Intercollegiate Athletic Association, 

UW-L student-athletes in 2007-08 had 

the highest GPA average at 3.198. That’s 

above the 3.140 general student body 

GPA at UW-L, also the highest among the 

nine UWs in the WIAC. And, the 374 

student-athletes with a GPA of 3.0 or 

above was at the top of WIAC schools. 

Chancellor Joe Gow says the 

accomplishment speaks highly of the 

university’s nearly century-old motto, 

Mens Corpusque. “With our mind-body 

emphasis, I think we’re doing well,” 

he notes. 


Former coach honored 

Mark Guthrie inducted into national hall of fame 

Former UW-L track & field 

coach Mark Guthrie has 

been inducted into the U.S. 

Track & Field and Cross Country 

Coaches Association Hall of 

Fame. Guthrie took over as head 

coach in 1985 and headed the 

program for 19 years. He joined 

the UW-Madison coaching staff 

in 2007. 

“It’s really a tremendous and 

humbling honor,” says Guthrie. 

“You don’t start out in this business thinking 

about halls of fame and that sort of thing, 

but to be honored by your peers like this is 

certainly a humbling experience.” 

Guthrie joins seven other successful 

Josh Buchholtz has returned 

to campus to become head 

men’s track & field coach. 

Buchholtz, ’00, will also be an 

assistant cross country coach for 

the Eagles’ men’s and women’s 

squads and work in athletic 

administration. 

“This is an very exciting time 

for me and my family,” says 

Buchholtz. “How can someone in 

my position not be excited? I 

have the opportunity to be part of the great 

city of La Crosse, a thriving and progressive 

UW-L campus community, a top-notch 

academic and athletic staff and I get to work 

with student-athletes from arguably one of 

the nation’s top track and field programs, as 

well as cross country programs.” 

Mark Guthrie 

coaches in the class of 2008. In 

his 19 years on campus, 

Guthrie’s teams won an 

unprecedented 22 NCAA III 

national titles — 12 indoor and 

10 outdoor. Along with the 

titles, his teams swept both the 

indoor and outdoor 

championships in the same 

season 10 times. Guthrie 

guided the Eagles to 34 WIAC 

titles. 

Guthrie has coached five Olympic trials 

participants. The most notable is 2004 

Olympic gold medalist Andrew Rock, a 

17-time NCAA III All-American at UW-L. 

Another run 

Alum returns to coach men’s track and field 

Josh Buchholtz, ’00 

Buchholtz had been men’s 

track & field and cross country 

head coach at UW-Stout since 

2002. He added the women’s 

track & field head coaching 

position in 2007. The Blue 

Devils had 31 NCAA Division 

III men qualifiers under 

Buchholtz and 24 women. 

Buchholtz returns to UW-L 

where runners continue to do 

well. In 2008, the men’s track & 

field team won the NCAA III Indoor 

Championship and swept the WIAC indoor 

and outdoor titles. The Eagles’ 14 indoor, 

11 outdoor and 25 overall national 

championships are all NCAA III records.

More than golf 

Alum promotes golfing for youth worldwide 

By David Johnson, ’92 

He umped professional baseball in the 

minors. He taught 10 years in middle 

school and coached in high school. 

Now, Scott Ott is leading teaching and coaching 

seminars in the sports travel industry. So far, he 

has led American athletes to Scotland, Ireland, 

France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, 

Puerto Rico and Canada. 

“During that time, I became enamored with 

Scotland and Ireland specifically for their 

beautiful landscapes, rich cultural opportunities, 

and some of the oldest and most hallowed golf 

courses in the world,” explains Ott, ’75 & ’88. “I 

knew this had to be shared with young golfers 

and their families.” 

In 2002, Ott created U.S. Junior Tours, an 

educational and athletic travel program for 

golfers ages 10-18 and their families. Its mission 

is to provide worldwide opportunities for young 

golfers with passion for the game and a desire to 

expand their athletic and cultural experiences. 

“With additional requests from golf groups, 

alumni groups, college and high school teams 

and individual golfers, I quickly realized the 

demand for additional tour programs and 

developed USJT Golf Travel,” says Ott, who 

serves as the USJT Golf Travel executive 

director. Since starting the program, Ott has 

taken golfers to play the most storied venues in 

Scotland and Ireland, including the sport’s 

birthplace, Scotland’s The Old Course in St. 

Andrews. He says the uniqueness of U.S. Junior 

Tours is that along with focused practice and 

instruction, athletes compete directly against 

individuals or teams in the countries they visit in 

an atmosphere that fosters learning and 

character development. 

Along with meeting the age requirement of 

10-18, golfers must have good character. Those 

admitted must have a passion for the game, as 

well as desire to improve their knowledge and 

skill level. And they must be ready to challenge 

their mental and physical 

attributes. 

“Acceptance to the 

program is based partially 

on athletic ability, yet even 

more focus is placed upon 

the young golfer’s 

dedication to 

improvement, personality, 

integrity, and eagerness to 

travel and experience 

other countries and 

cultures,” explains Ott. 

The program focuses 

on three areas: 

education/instruction, 

competition and cultural. 

Participants get golf 

instruction from Scottish 

or Irish PGA teaching professionals, they 

compete competitively and get a history lesson 

about courses. Families and golfers from 18 

different states, South Africa and Hong Kong 

have participated. 

Programs are limited to 12 golfers, allowing a 

6:1 ratio of staff to golfers. Ott’s wife, Maureen 

Carroll, ’76, a Tomah Middle School English 

teacher, accompanies summer programs for the 

USJT as staff. 

The 2009 tour, “The Birthplace of Golf 

Program,” travels to St. Andrews in Scotland July 

14-23 and July 27-Aug. 5. There’s also an English 

Language Immersion and Golf Experience July 

13-30 in St. Andrews, designed for golfers who 

speak English as a second language. 

Areas being considered for future trips 

include Hawaii and Wisconsin’s Whistling 

Straits and Black Wolf Run, which will hold 

upcoming PGA and WPGA championships. 

For more information, go to 

www.usjuniortours.com. 

a t h l e t i c s 

Bobby Pena, left, and Jeremy Brostrom, both 

of La Crescent, Minn., have enjoyed U.S. 

Junior Tours. Here, they’re standing in front of 

the Royal and Ancient Building in Scotland. 


’33 

Beulah Lee Yaney, Minneapolis, 

celebrated her 94th birthday in November. 

She recalls being very happy when her 

parents had enough money to allow her to 

attend La Crosse State Teachers College 

for a year. She began teaching in a rural, 

one-room school with 30 pupils in eight 

grades. “My years of teaching were 

wonderful thanks to UW-L,” she says. 

’50 

Maurice “Mac” McCauley, Winona, 

Minn., is a professor emeritus of physics 

at Winona (Minn.) State University. He 

has served two terms in the Minnesota 

state legislature and has been a Winona 

County commissioner. 

’52 

C. Ashley Ellefson, Cortland, N.Y., a 

professor of history emeritus at the State 

University of New York Cortland, stirred 

up discussion with a presentation he 

made on “Governor John Seymour and 

the Charters of Annapolis — 1708” at a 

symposium celebrating the tricentennial 

of the chartering of that city in June 2008. 

The presentation sparked articles in the 

Annapolis Capital, Baltimore Sun and 

Chicago Tribune, as well as editorials in 

the Capital. The article he based his 

presentation is at 

http://aomol.net/html/index.html; type 

“Ellefson” in the search box. 


Classnotes 

Keep up to date with your classmates. To learn how, go to page 37. 

Local Fitness Champion 

Tari Hoeft has set 

the pace in Homer, Alaska. 

Enthusiastic and energetic, Tari creates an 

’66 

Gail (Lloyd) Peterson-Ream has retired 

after 20 years as administrator of the 

Camden County Board of Elections in 

New Jersey. She was an elected official 

for 15 years and Camden County 

Republican chairman for five years. She 

and her husband, Ken, have sold their 

home in Gibbsboro and planned to move 

south by the end of 2008. 

atmosphere in which students feel encouraged to 

’71 

Mary Ormson, ’71 & ’72, Hot Springs, 

Ark., has retired as assistant dean for 

Student Services in the University of 

Toledo College her entire of Business community. 

Administration. 

John Schwenn (see 

photo), Dalton, Ga., 

became president of 

Dalton (Ga.) State 

College in March. He had 

been vice president for 

academic affairs at 

Emporia (Kan.) State 

University www.healthyfuturesak.org 

since 1997. 

An Alaska 

athlete 

participate and have fun. Dividing her time between West 

Homer Elementary School and Paul Banks Elementary School, Tari 

imparts a variety of skills and endless opportunities to help her 

young students find their sport. She 

organizes an annual youth fun run 

and the Orca Olympics, coaches many 

afterschool programs, has extremely 

high Healthy Futures participation and 

genuinely elevates the spirit of 

Fitness Champions are individuals in 

Alaska who have made a significant 

contribution to keeping Alaska’s children 

fit and active. To find out more about 

Tari (Hanson) 

Hoeft, ’90 

Tari (Hanson) Hoeft, ’90, has been 

recognized for setting the pace in two 

Alaskan elementary schools. The 

physical education teacher at Paul 

Banks Elementary and West Homer 

elementary schools in the Kenai 

Peninsula Borough School District 

Tari Hoeft 

was featured in a large ad in the 

Kenai Peninsula Borough 

Anchorage Daily School News District, in April. She 

Physical Education Teacher 

was also highlighted in an article in the 

Peninsula Clarion. Hoeft was 

recognized for teaching students the 

importance of total body fitness. See 

the article at: 

www.peninsulaclarion.com/ 

stories/051308/sch_ 

278582101.shtml. 

’73 

what Healthy Futures is doing to get kids 

William H. Kiel, Jackson, Mich., has 

moving visit www.healthyfuturesak.org 

been promoted to vice president of 

development Brought at to Allegiance you by the Alaska Health Association in for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance 

Jackson, Mich. Kiel has been named 

regional director elect for the Association 

for Healthcare Philanthropy’s Midwest 

region.

’76 

Deanna Lutz-Loewenhagen, Waunakee, 

is a certified instructor in negotiations with 

the International Right of Way 

Association. She’s a step-grandmother of 

five and is a 1990 graduate of UW-L’s 

Clown Camp. Her clown name is Dottie. 

’77 

Kathy (Jagmin), ’77, and Terry, ’78 & 

’81, Teach have relocated to Lenexa, 

Kan., a suburb of Kansas City. Terry is a 

vice president at Grundfos Pumps. Kathy 

is a freelance writer specializing in health 

care. Married 28 years, the couple’s sons 

are both “out of the nest.” Their oldest is 

in pilot training for the Marine Corps and 

the other is a senior at the U.S. Air Force 

Academy. 

’78 

Rich Roginski, Eleva, has retired from 

teaching and coaching at Eleva-Strum 

Central High School. As coach, his boy’s 

basketball teams brought home one state 

championship, two runner-up titles and 

made four state tournament appearances. 

His 23-year record was 383-146. He was 

the 2008 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches 

Association Coach of the Year and 2008 

Associated Press Coach of the Year. He is 

currently an assistant coach for the UW- 

Eau Claire men’s basketball team. 

’79 

Dennis C. Andrewski, Maplewood, 

Minn., led the Tartan High School 

Wrestling team to the 2008 Minnesota 

State Wrestling Tournament for the first 

time last March. The team placed sixth 

and had six individual state entrants, as 

well as second- and third-place individual 

finishers. Andrewski is a high school 

social studies teacher, and wrestling and 

assistant football coach. He and his wife, 

Gail, have three children, Robyn (26) Mike 

(24) and Denise (21). 

Future alums? 

Children of eight alums from the ’80s, pictured 

above, have gathered with their parents the last 

four years for a UW-L reunion. While their 

parents reminisce about UW-L, the kids 

rekindle their new friendships and have fun. 

The children’s parents include Jeanne 

(Inserra), ’86, and Jerry Dolinsky, Mendota 

Heights, Minn.; Katy (Marrinan), ’86, and 

Paul Prussing, Juneau, Alaska; Connie 

’81 

Jill (Julia) Elizabeth Bullis-Thompson, 

Boise, Idaho, moved her private practice 

to a new location and gave it a new name. 

Jill Thompson Physical Therapy is now 

Physical Therapy 180°. 

’82 

Doug Collister, Phoenix, received the 

“Golden Gator Outstanding Educator” for 

2007-08 from Xavier College Preparatory 

of Phoenix. It’s the fourth time Collister 

has received the recognition. 

Catherine (Swanson) Kiener, Port 

Washington, received an outstanding 

supporter award from The Midwest 

Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation for 

more than 20 years of coordinating the 

Official Hospitality Room when the 

symposium is in Wisconsin. 

l a c r o s s e t i e s 

(Hartung), ’86, and Matt Cottrill, Pittsburgh; 

Jane (Klindt), ’86, and Brian Sabrowsky, 

Seymour; Amy (Higley), ’86, and Mike 

Bartels, ’89, Hudson; and Ellen (Ryan), ’86, 

and Mike Kuenster, ’86, Mendota Heights, 

Minn. “We all loved UW-La Crosse and have a 

blast getting together each summer,” reports 

Ellen Kuenster. 

Terri (Diekvoss) Silli, Highlands Ranch, 

Colo., is a high school health and physical 

education teacher for Colorado Virtual 

Academy. She and her husband, Mike, 

have a 5-year-old daughter, Brooke. They 

enjoy Colorado weather and activities. 

’83 

Kathy (Noel) Moen, La Crosse, was 

featured in the September-October 2008 

issue of “Advancing Philanthropy” 

magazine. 

’85 

Jack Gill, Beloit, has been elected to the 

Wisconsin Credit Union League’s Board 

of Directors as the association’s treasurer. 



House reunion brings back 

memories 

Former 1330 Vine St. residents enjoy get-togethers 

Attending the 1330 Vine St. Reunion in 2008 were: front, from left, Dean Rosenow, Leona Amundson, 

Jim (friend of Leona’s) and Toby Ellison; and back, from left, Pete Monsos, Dennis O’Brien and Chuck Bohage. 

Graduates from the ’50s and ’60s who 

roomed together at a house near 

campus have been getting together 

for a reunion during the past decade. 

It was 1956 when Dick and Leona 

Amundson opened their house to seven 

UW-L students looking for a place to call 

“home.” The house, at 1330 Vine St., was 

owned by Dick’s parents who started renting 

to students in 1954. Seven men lived with the 

Amundsons each year through 1961. Many 

came from Blair and Black River Falls. Dick 

and Leona owned the Amundson Bakery in 

La Crosse. Leona was Mrs. Oktoberfest 

in 1975. 

In 1995 Leona spoke with Duane 

Peterson about starting a reunion of her 

“boys.” They gathered at her cabin near 


Hayward. Peterson, who has since died, 

joined with Elwood “Woody” Knutson, 

Kenosha, and Dean Rosenow, Bloomington, 

Minn., to get the first reunion underway. 

Those attending the first year included the 

three organizers along with Glen and Pat 

Severson, North Fort Myers, Fla., and Leona. 

The reunions continue each August. 

Friday night activities include a fish fry at a 

local restaurant. Saturday morning the “boys” 

golf while their wives shop and sightsee. The 

afternoon includes happy hour at the cabin, 

followed by a cookout or dinner at a 

restaurant. Sunday, the group gathers at the 

Robin’s Nest for breakfast, more reminiscing, 

pictures, and farewells. 

The reunion brings a flood of memories, 

Leona says. “It’s almost like a family reunion,” 

she explains. 

All of the “boys” remember Leona’s “no 

girls upstairs” rule, which is recalled annually. 

Among those attending the reunion during 

the past decade: Leona Amundson, Chuck, 

’58, and Doris Bohage; Leonard “Toby,” ’65, 

and Marian Ellison; David, ’64, and Joan 

Ibinger; Elwood, ‘60, and Roseann Knutson; 

Pete, ’65, and Vickie Monsos; Dennis, ’64, and 

Diane O’Brien; Wendell and Shirley Olson; 

Bonnie Peterson; Dean and Marguerite 

Rosenow; Glen and Pat Severson; Harry ’63 

& Barb Stai; and Sharon Melby. Along with 

Peterson, the other “brother” who has died is 

Don Melby.

’86 

Christine (Swiggum) Pentecost, 

Bozeman, Mont., worked with August 

2007 flood victims in Winona (Minn.) 

County with Operation Photo Rescue. 

Pentecost is president of the organization 

that digitally restores photographs 

damaged in natural disasters. See more 

at www.operationphotorescue.org. 

’87 

Karen Kodzik, St. Paul, Minn., is a 

consultant with Cultivating Careers, a 

career-consulting company in St. Paul. 

See more at cultivatingcareers.com. 

Scott Taylor, Cleveland, signed a new 

deal to stay with CBS afilliate WOIO 

TV-19 Action News in Cleveland. Taylor 

is a national award-winning investigative 

reporter. 

’88 

Rod Gabriel, Fredonia, has been 

promoted to information technology 

infrastructure engineer at United Financial 

Services. In October 2007 he accepted 

the position as leader of the Wisconsin 

Area VMware User Group. 

’91 

Terry Gerba, Parker, Colo., has received 

the first Naviance Excellence in 

Leadership Award for his work with 

“WorkspaceK12.” Gerba works at 

Mountain Vista High School in Highland 

Ranch, Colo. 

Kevin Schloesser, Savage, Minn., is 

manager of National Accounts Supply 

Chain with Toshiba America Consumer 

Products. He and his wife, Jennifer, have 

two children, Grace (6) and Trevor (3). 

MIke Van Veghel, Cottage Grove, 

received the Outstanding Athletic Trainer 

award from the University of Wisconsin 

Jerry Kohlbeck, left, longtime Oostburg High School physical education 

teacher and coach, poses with area businessperson Gordy Veldboom next 

to the field entrance that bears his name. 

Hospital Sports Medicine Clinic, where he 

works. He also received a 2007 Wisconsin 

Athletic Trainers Association 

Distinguished Service Award. Van Veghel 

and his wife, Annette, have a son, Jake, 

and daughter, Ellie. 


Athletic field named 

for alum 

Longtime physical education teacher and 

coach Jerry Kohlbeck, ’54, was honored with 

the dedication of a new football/track and 

field facility built in his name. 

Gordy Veldboom, a local 

businessperson who played football for 

Kohlbeck, gave the Oostburg (Wis.) School 

District $350,000 to build the facility, which 

was dedicated during Oostburg High 

School’s homecoming football game in 

October. 

Kohlbeck taught physical education and 

coached in the Oostburg School District for 

50 years – including coaching track and field 

as a volunteer for the last 20 years after his 

retirement. 

“Obviously, Jerry had a tremendous 

impact on Mr. Velbloom as a young 

person,” says Oostburg High School 

Principal Scott Greupink. “But, (he) also 

had a tremendously positive impact on 

generations of young people in the 

community of Oostburg.” 

Greupink suggests that no educator in 

the district has attended more weddings of 

former students than Kohlbeck. “That fact 

clearly demonstrates their respect for him,” 

he notes. “It’s a quality we’d like our entire 

faculty to emulate.” 

’94 

Susan (Zillmer) Effinger, Altoona, has 

been named director of the Northwest 

District of Junior Achievement of 

Wisconsin. 



’95 

Venus Wong, Hong Kong, has started a 

new job in LimeTree Capital Advisors 

Limited as a regional accountant after 

working for six years at the Yahoo! Hong 

Kong office. Wong has traveled a lot, 

including a recent trip to Malaysia and 

Singapore to visit UW-L international 

students. 

’96 

Chris Finn, San Leandro, Calif., was 

nominated to the National Spinal Cord 

Injury Association Hall of Fame. Finn is 

the head coach of the USA National 

Power Soccer Team. 

Family tradition 

Three generations of UW-L grads 

Rachel Schaeffer, ’96, married Brian 

Marcouiller Aug. 18, 2007. They live in 

South Saint Paul, Minn. Rachel has been 

a language arts teacher at Wayzata East 

Middle School in Plymouth, Minn., for the 

past nine years. 

’97 

Ivan R. Weiss, Jr., San Antonio, is a 

financial adviser for USAA in San Antonio. 

’98 

Matthew Eckelberg (see 

photo) has been hired as 

a senior manager at 

Hawkins, Ash, Baptie & 

Co. in Marshfield. 

Three generations of the Hinchcliffe family — those who are UW-L alums — posed this 

summer while vacationing in northern Wisconsin. They included, from left, Deborah 

Hinchcliffe, ’76; Richard A. Hinchcliffe, ’52; Joan (Barwind) Hinchcliffe, ’62; Kelsey 

Hinchcliffe, current junior; and Richard A Hinchcliffe, Jr., ’80. “We’re all very glad to be 

graduates of UW-L,” says Richard Sr. “We are all proud of UW-L.” 


did you 

know … 

… you can get license 

plates that sport — and 

support — UW-La Crosse? 

The plates pictured above 

are on the truck owned by 

Baseball Head Coach Chris 

Schwarz, ’02. Find out more 

at: www.dot.state.wi.us/ 

drivers/vehicles/personal/ 

special/index.htm. 

Chris Schmitz married Steven Domser 

June 20, 2008. They live in Johnstown, 

Pa. 

’99 

LaToya (Flowers) Harvey, Redford, 

Mich., received a master’s in social work 

from Eastern Michigan University in April 

2008. She graduated with a 3.98 GPA 

while working full time as a foster care 

specialist with the Michigan Department 

of Human Services. She hopes to work as 

a school social worker. 

Susan Knaus, ’99 & ’03, married Jerry 

Van Den Langenberg April 26, 2008. They 

live in Beloit. Susan teaches kindergarten.

Best House reunites 

Former roommates from Best House 

returned to campus in August. They 

included (pictured above), from left, 

Sonja (Pfaff) Haske, ’66 & ’90; Andi (Elstad) 

Sosalla, ’67; Gayle (Gutknecht) Christensen, 

’66; Chancellor Joe Gow; Shirley (Walsvik) 

Merrill, ’67; Sue Hickey, ’67; and Darryle 

(Damon) Clott ’66 & ’71. 

Here’s what the Best House alums recalled 

after their campus visit: 

“What is wonderful about UW-L 

today is that it is well known across the 

country and ranked very high as one of 

the best colleges in various 

departments. … The growth of UW-L 

in number of students is outstanding — 

and much different from our smaller 

college of years past.” 

—Sonja (Pfaff) Haske, ’66 & ’90 

“Walking from Old Main, past 

Wittich over to Trowbridge still felt 

comfortable and as though I still 

belonged there. … I loved getting into 

Wittich; I couldn’t believe that nothing 

had changed over the past 40 years. 

Egads!” 

— Gayle (Gutknecht) Christensen, ’66 

“I was amazed to see how much the 

campus has changed. It was fun to 

reflect on ‘remember when …’ as we 

walked around. UW-L is still probably 

one of the prettiest campuses in 

Wisconsin.” 

— Sue Hickey, ’67 

“I was impressed with the new 

additions to the campus. Even more 

thrilled to see the historic buildings still 

there. And amazed at the sense of 

community that the present students 

and staff offered to us alumni of the 

past.” 

— Andi (Elstad) Sosalla, ’67 

“Main Hall looks the same on the 

outside but so nice inside. … 

Trowbridge Hall used to have a busy 

street in front of it along with homes 

across from the dorm. The homes and 

street have been replaced with brick 

buildings. … It was amazing to go into 

Wittich Hall and remembering all the 

physical education classes I had in there, 

plus getting my Certification for Life 

Saving in the pool.” 

—Shirley (Walsvik) Merrill, ’67 


“I have loved this campus since I 

first set foot on it 46 years ago in the 

autumn of 1962 as a very scared 

freshman from Amery. … We did not 

have Ipods, PDAs, VCRs, DVDs, 

computers or cell phones and had never 

heard of text-messaging, all of which 

move my children’s worlds. We wrote 

our papers in long-hand and typed 

them on typewriters. A few fortunate 

students even had electric typewriters. 

Long-distance phone calls were 

expensive, thus were made sparingly 

usually reserved for calls home on 

Sunday. Even though many things on 

campus have changed, many are still the 

same. This is a great university filled 

with caring professors and staff.” 

— Darryle (Damon) Clott ’66 & ’71 



did you 

know … 

… you can see old 

yearbooks online? Murphy 

Library staff have begun 

digitizing copies of UW-L’s 

earliest yearbooks. See them 

at http://murphylibrary. 

uwlax.edu/digital/ 

uwl/yearbook. Copies of 

actual yearbooks are 

available for viewing in the 

library’s Area Research 

Center. 

’01 

Thomas J. Wieme married Lauren Ourt 

April 19, 2008. They live in Augusta, Ga. 

They both recently graduated from the 

Medical College of Georgia with degrees 

of master’s of physician assistant where 

they both work in family practice offices. 

’02 

Anne Lindberg married Jake Ingman 

June 28, 2008. They live in St. Paul, Minn. 

She works at The College of St. 

Catherine. 


Sumanth Reddy, Manhattan, Kan., 

received a William L. Stamey Award for 

Excellence from Kansas State University. 

Reddy is a graduate teaching assistant in 

geography. 

’03 

Amanda L. Converse, Clearwater, Fla., 

has been appointed to the volunteer 

position of Flotilla Staff Officer-Information 

Services for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. 

The volunteer version of the Coast Guard 

works closely with Coast Guard Station 

Sand Key with Helicopter Training, C-130 

missions and public education. 

Rick Henert, North Pole, Alaska, was 

named High School Football Coach of the 

Year in the state of Alaska. Henert 

coaches the North Pole Patriots. 

Erin Pease married Nathan Rivard June 

28, 2008. They live in Golden, Colo. 

Corey Sorenson moved to New York 

after receiving a master’s of fine arts from 

Temple University in Philadelphia. He has 

been working as a professional actor for 

the past two years in theatre, regionally 

and off-Broadway. He has made 

appearances in the following TV shows: 

“The Wire,” “Rescue Me,” “Kidnapped,” 

“State of Mind” and “Law & Order: SVU.” 

’04 

Demetrius D. Banks, Onalaska, works 

for the Division of Vocational 

Rehabilitation as a consumer case 

coordinator. 

Travis Schuld married Mindy Navarre 

Sept. 6, 2008. They live in Marshfield. 

Travis works for CarQuest Tool & 

Equipment. 

Softball 

elite 

Softball Hall of 

Fame’s Class of 

2008 includes 

UW-L grad 

The National Senior Softball Hall of 

Fame in Mustang, Okla., has named 

Fran Ebert to its elite corps of athletes. 

Founded in 1995, the organization 

recognizes players, managers, umpires, 

directors and sponsors who have 

achieved the highest honors in senior 

softball. 

Ebert, ’52, graduated with a 

bachelor’s degree in physical education 

and a minor in mathematics. She 

received a master’s in physical education 

from Indiana University. She was 

recognized by the NSSA for her 

achievements as head softball coach at 

Western Michigan University, where 

she posted a record of 270 wins, 116 

losses, and one tie. 

Ebert’s coaching career culminated 

with the Senior Softball World Series 

Championships in Des Moines in 2002, 

2003 and 2004. 

Nominees to the National Senior 

Softball Hall of Fame must be at least 60 

years old and have played organized 

softball a minimum of 10 years. 

Editor’s note: As this issue of the Alumnus 

was going to the press, we learned Ebert 

died Nov. 7, 2008. 

’05 

Sarah Wilson married Richard Wood 

June 21, 2008. They live in Fish Creek in 

Door County. Sarah is assistant manager 

at the Pamida Store in Sister Bay.

ooknook 

Family Farm is topic 

of alum’s latest 

book Rural 

Wisconsin 

in the early 

1950s is the 

setting for a 

new novel 

by Nick 

Cibrario, 

’69. 

Ten-year-old Adam Montanya is 

traumatized by an incident that 

occurs on the family farm in the 

Badger State. He can’t tell his parents 

what happened to him in the barn. 

And, everyone in the family is too 

’06 

Samuel Albertsen, Astoria, N.Y. has 

moved to “The Big Apple” to continue his 

love for performing. He recently 

performed in an off-Broadway play with 

the theatre company “Spellbound.” He 

also does improvisational comedy at the 

New York Comedy Club and is starting his 

own Improvisational comedy troupe. His 

biggest job has been landing the role of 

Peter Cooper in the historical reenactment, 

“Changing Lives: The Peter 

Cooper Story,” expected to be broadcast 

on TV. 

Jake and Ashley (Cance) Colstad, both 

’06, live in La Crosse. They recently 

started their own business. 

Abby (Spiegelhoff) Galstad, Los 

Angeles, has started her second of three 

preoccupied with their own secrets, 

except for his Italian grandmother. 

Adam’s not alone. Most in the 

community have secrets. They deny 

the consequences of World War II 

and the horror of the Korean War. 

For those not old enough to have 

lived through the era, this historical 

novel can serve as an introduction to 

the bygone days of the 50s. 

See more at: 

www.pomelotree.com. 

years getting a master’s in fine arts at 

University of California Los Angeles for 

acting. Galstad is teaching undergraduate 

theater classes and works with four full 

productions each year. 

Kristina Meissen, Chapel Hill, N.C., has 

been awarded the 2008 Dorothy Harris 

Fellowship by the Women’s Sports 

Foundation. The national award honors 

women showing dedication to girl’s and 

women’s participation in sport. 

Nicole Poehling, Eau Claire, is working 

with the Student Telefund and Young 

Alumni at UW-Eau Claire. 

Erin Ruenger, Milwaukee, an assistant 

account executive with Zeppos & 

Associates, has won a Paragon Award 

from the Southeastern Wisconsin Chapter 


Keep up 

your 

La Crosse 

pride! 

Keep in touch with us, and we’ll keep in 

touch with you! It’s easy: 

Phone 608.785.8490 

1.877.UWL.ALUM 

Fax 608.785.6868 

E-mail alumni@uwlax.edu 

Web www.uwlalumni.org 

Mailing address 

UW-La Crosse Alumni Association; 

Cleary Alumni & Friends Center; 

615 East Ave. N.; La Crosse, WI 54601 

Submit news to the Alumnus 

www.uwlalumni.org/whatsnew.htm 

Online alumni directory 

http://directory.uwlalumni.org 

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www.uwlalumni.org/awards.htm 

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booknook 

Alum pens book 

promoting active 

lifestyles for kids 

Children shouldn’t be duffers 

after reading this book. 

BerNadette Lawson-Williams, 

’97, has written her first children’s 

book, Blossom Bee’s Golf Adventures, 

which aims to encourage children to 

live healthy and physically active 

lifestyles. It tells the friendly and light- 

of the Public Relations Society of America 

for work performed in 2007. 

Jana K. Schreier, Astoria, N.Y., moved to 

New York City in fall 2007. She has been 

in an off-Broadway original musical, 

“We’ve Got a Problem,” and was recently 

cast in “The Full Monty” which will run in 

Chicago for three months. In New York, 

Schreier is an active member of an 

improvisational group, Village Playback 

Theatre. After the Chicago production, 

she plans to return to NYC. 

’07 

Julie Kinney, Stoddard, was among 

seven graduate degree holders from 

Wisconsin included in the 2008 edition of 

“Making a Difference: A Selection of 

Graduate Degree Holders and Their 

Contributions to the Public Good” 


hearted story of a charismatic little 

girl, Blossom Bee, who encounters 

endless adventures while discovering 

golf. 

Aside from teaching the golf 

fundamentals, the book emphasizes 

numerous personal wellness concepts 

for children. Among them: good 

nutrition, positive self-esteem, 

personal hygiene, strong family 

values, manners and more. It also uses 

a poetic and metaphoric style to 

engage, entertain and educate readers 

of all ages. 

See more about the book at 

www.blossombee.info. 

published by the Council of Graduate 

Schools. She teaches English/literacy at 

Logan High School in La Crosse. 

Class of 20?? 

Alumni announce new arrivals to their 

families. 

Megan (Murphy), ’92, and Joseph 

Cusick, Chicago, a son, Peter Michael, 

Oct. 1, 2008. He joins two sisters and two 

brothers, Maggie, Cathleen, Joseph and 

William. 

Jolene (Rathke), ’93, and George H. 

Smith III, West Allis, a son, Alexander 

Jayden, March 25, 2008. He joins 

Matthew (6) and Erin (3). 

State 

regents 

honor 

Spencer 

Janie Spencer, 

’85 & ’86 

Executive Director of UW-L’s Alumni 

Association Janie Spencer received the 

2008 Regents Academic Staff Excellence 

Award. Spencer, ’85 & ’86, was cited at 

the Aug. 22 UW Board of Regents 

meeting in Madison. The award is the 

highest for academic staff from 

throughout the UW System. The Regent 

Committee selected Spencer’s 

nomination from among a select few 

candidates “who represent the excellent 

and invaluable service provided by the 

professional academic staff in the UW 

System.” Spencer received $5,000 for 

professional development or to enhance a 

university program or function. Spencer 

was the recipient of UW-L’s Academic 

Staff Excellence Award in 2007. 

Kelly (Kostelecky), ’94, and Chuck 

Floeter, Rochester, Minn., a son, Cole 

Rodrick, March 27, 2008.

Top 

teacher 

Beth Oswald 

Beth Oswald is known for her ability to 

put a spark into the learning environment. 

She’s also known as one of the best 

teachers in the state. 

Oswald, a graduate of UW-L’s Milton 

learning community in 2003, was 

selected the 2007-08 Middle School 

Teacher of the Year for the state. And, she 

was selected by the Department of Public 

Instruction to represent Wisconsin in the 

National Teacher of the Year program. 

“Those who work with you and 

students who have you as a teacher feel 

very privileged,” noted State 

Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster 

when announcing Oswald as the state’s 

rep. “Your enthusiasm, professionalism 

and commitment to children and their 

learning are representative of the very best 

in quality teaching.” 

Oswald has been teaching world 

history in Evansville at McKenna Middle 

School since 1996. 

Matt, ’95, and Jessica (Groose), ’96-98 

attendee, Anderson, Middleton, a son, 

Cooper Reid, Sept. 18, 2007. They own 

and operate Fleet Feet Sports Madison, a 

running, triathlon and walking specialty 

store. They opened the store in 2005 after 

Jessica worked in the original Fleet Feet 

Sports store in Sacramento, Calif., for two 

years. Matt was a city planner in 

La Crosse from 1997-2000 and in 

Sacramento from 2000-02. 

Andrew, ’99, and Jennifer Chromy, 

Franksville, a son, Andrew Jr., Aug. 7, 

2008. Andrew works for the South 

Milwaukee School District. 

Kraig, ’97, and Jennifer (Gutierrez), ’99, 

Hoff, West Salem, a daughter, Maya 

Abigail, Feb. 20, 2008. She joins brother 

Keeping in touch 

Six college roommates around the turn of the 

millennium keep in touch with annual gettogethers. 

Rochelle (Rydberg) Olson, ’99, 

Boyceville, reports a group of her classmates 

remains close, despite living throughout the 

country. In July, five of six college roommates 

and their children met in Madison. Among 

them: Stephanie (O’Gara) Cieciwa, ’99, 

Milwaukee, and her two children Jack (2) 

and Nora (5 months); Carrie (Pelner) 

Schaefer, ’00, Sun Prairie, and her two 


Payton (3). Jennifer works at Gundersen 

Lutheran; Kraig works for the Wisconsin 

DNR. 

Bill, ’99, and Sarah Moris, Yorkville, Ill., a 

daughter, Skyler, May 19, 2008. She joins 

sister Madeline (3). 

Melissa (Tilton), ’00, and Marcus 

Wilhelm, Blaine, Minn., a girl, Madison 

Rae, April 29, 2008. 

daughters Olivia (4) and Avery (2 months); 

Misty (Gorski) Miller, ’99, Chippewa Falls, 

and her son Keinin (1); Jen (Porter) Popp, 

’99, Boynton Beach, Fla., who is pregnant 

with twins. Olson’s children attending were 

daughters Ava (5), Harper (4), and Delaney 

(1). The missing roommate was Tracy 

(Clausen) Hartin, ’00, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 

and her newborn son, Sean. They hope to get 

their families together every summer. 

The following former roommates met in Madison this summer for a reunion. They 

included, from left: Misty (Gorski) Miller, ’99; Stephanie (O’Gara) Cieciwa, ’99; Carrie 

(Pelner) Schaefer, ’00; Rochelle (Rydberg) Olson, ’99; and Jen (Porter) Popp, ’99. 



Extended 

family 

UW-La Crosse gear traveled back to 

Europe after a summer visit to campus 

by a Belgian cousin of three alumni. 

Charles Marchand and his sister, 

Marion, sported UW-L gear in Brussels 

following Charles’ return to Belgium 

after living in the U.S. for part of the 

summer. While here, his activities 

included a campus visit for a youth 

program. The Marchands’ cousins who 

are UW-L alums include: Denise 

Rostad, ’77, Platteville; Aimee (Rostad) 

Miles, ’96, Champlin, Minn.; and Kelly 

(Rostad) Wachewicz, ’01, La Crosse. 

Mardy (Juhl), ’01, and Steven 

Goldsmith, Brookfield, a son, Lincoln 

Juhl, June 27, 2008. 

Christie (Kerr), ’02, and Soren 

Gajewski, Sturtevant, a daughter, 

Eleanor Rose, May 26, 2008. She joins 

brothers Aiden (5) and Shea (4). Christie 

graduated from Cardinal Stritch University 

with master’s in reading and literacy 

development in August 2008. She has 

joined her husband, an elementary school 


The UW-L connection 

principal in Racine Unified, as a reading 

specialist in a middle school. 

Mandi (Watkins), ’02, and Michael 

Soderlund, Bloomington, Minn., a 

daughter, Emilia Mae, Oct. 7, 2008. 

Carrie (Meyer) and Dean McFarlane, 

both ’03, Marshfield, a son, Beckett 

Daniel, May 12, 2008. Carrie has a new 

job as a merchandiser with Figi’s; Dean 

teaches science at Auburndale High 

School where he is head football coach. 

Laura (Bethke), ’04, and Jacob Cretens, 

Milwaukee, a son, Tye Andrew, Oct. 20, 

2007. 

You’ve probably been told to “Give 

it the old college try.” Well, Kelley 

Briceno, ’84, left, gave her old 

college a try. 

The English teacher from Lake 

Worth, Fla., spends summers as 

director of Global Language 

Institute’s summer youth camp in 

West Palm Beach, Fla. The camp 

needed a live-in camp counselor for 

its eight-week program, so Briceno 

contacted UW-L recreation 

management faculty asking for 

candidates. 

After an interview, Briceno 

hired UW-L student Andrea Olson, 

right, for summer 2006. Olson was 

“an excellent employee,” says 

Briceno. Olson graduated that 

December and was promoted to 

assistant director in summer ’07. 

After returning for a third summer 

in ’08, Olson was hired full time by 

the institute. 

Heather (Du Mez) and Justin Jehn, both 

’04, a daughter, Addison Joy, March 18, 

2008. 

Lisa (Borgstrom), ’04 & ’07, and Mark 

Roose, Tomah, a daughter, Makenna 

Catherine, May 3, 2008. Lisa is an 8th 

grade math teacher at Tomah Middle 

School.

In memory 

1928 — Ernest N. Schroeder, Wheeling, Ill. 

1936 — Olive (Dacey) Gershon, La Crosse 

1937 — F. Clark Carnes, Oconto 

1940 — Martha (Andra) Peek, Onalaska 

1943 — Robert A. Carey, Phoenix 

1944 — Maree Frisch Huber, Fond du Lac 

1948 — Jerome F. Ahl, Slinger 

1946 — Arlene (Plimpton) Turgasen, Manitowoc 

1948 — Patricia (Fjelstad) Jorstad, Burlington 

1949 — Arthur “Art” Van Aman, Ontario 

1949 — Ardell “Ardy” R. Aarstad, La Crosse 

1949 —William H. Cross, Oostburg 

1949 — Robert “Nudge” Novak, 

Langhorne, Pa. 

1950 — Maxine (Tournade) Pokrop, Milwaukee 

1951 — James Blank, Iowa City, Iowa 

1951 — Robert H. Paulson, Reno, Nev. 

1954 — Richard “Dick” Peterson, Mt. Horeb 

1958 — Clarence Schlicht, Onalaska 

1960 — Beatrice M. Van Loon, Houston, Minn. 

1961 — Joseph Dahlby, Racine 

1962 — Dwight “Duke” H. Kennedy III, 

La Crosse 

1962 — John Sugar, Ft. Collins, Colo. 

1963 — Sandra (Schuning) Hassemer, 

Sun City West, Ariz. 

1966 — Genevieve (Beardsley) Hansen, 

Trempealeau 

1968 — Emma Jean (Pierce) Eitland, Viroqua 

1968 — Donald Justinger, Wascott 

1968 — Nancy (McCoy) Nelson, Galesville 

1968 — Christopher Lee Taylor, Leesburg, Fla. 

1969 — Geraldine Nordstrom Paulsen, Mondovi 

1969 — Angela Kay (Dvorak) Weichert, 

Caledonia, Minn. 

1970 — Patricia Hundt Simpson, Milwaukee 

1970 — Rick Rude, McLean, Va. 

1971 — Larry Zirgibel, Boyceville 

1973 — Richard Kasten, West Salem 

1974 — Mark Arthur “Booner” Morris, La Crosse 

1974 — Eleanor Margaret Roraff, La Crosse 

1987 — Crystal Linse Moileen, Westby 

1993 — Sara (Barrington) Young, New London 

1994 — Lori Ann (Hundt) Fincher, 

West Salem 

Faculty and staff 

obituaries 


Ardell ‘Ardy’ R. Aarstad, ’49 | Ardell “Ardy” R. Aarstad, 83, 

died June 19, 2008, in La Crosse. After attending UW-L in 1941- 

42, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was a B-29 pilot until 

1946, when he returned to campus. The ’49 graduate was a 

member of the Beta Sigma Chi. In 1966, he joined the UW-L 

faculty as associate registrar, where he served until retiring in 

1988. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and two children. 

Memorials can be made to the UW-L Foundation, 615 East Ave. 

N., La Crosse. 

Ernest ‘Ernie’ Hartmann | Ernest Hartmann, 81, 

Cottonwood, Ariz., died Sept. 3, 2008. Hartmann taught in 

recreation management and therapeutic recreation from 1970- 

90. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State University 

and a doctorate from the University of Utah. He was a WWII 

veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy. Hartmann was very active 

with Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Beaver 

Award. He is survived by his wife, Beth, and two children. 

Kerry Nelson | Professor Emeritus Kerry Nelson “Doc” died 

May 30, 2008, in Madison from pancreatic cancer. Nelson 

taught in psychology from 1969-99. He wrote manuals for his 

undergraduate and graduate classes, federal grants for 

development of the graduate program to train teachers to work 

with emotionally disturbed students, and provided fellowships for 

graduate students. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne, and three 

sons. 

For complete obituaries of most faculty members, visit 

www.lacrossetribune.com and click on “Obituaries” 

under “News.” 


c o u l e e c o d a 

Alumnus Sean Bell, who knew Todd Olson for over a year, 

was Olson’s platoon leader in Samarra and was leading 

the mission when Olson was killed. Bell is pictured here 

at a memorial service the soldiers held for Olson. 

Services typically include the soldier’s boots, M4 with 

bayonet, dog tags hanging on the weapon and the 

helmet on top. 

A lasting 

honor 

Patrol base in Iraq named after 

alumnus Todd Olson 


By Sue (Sullivan) Lee, ’82 & ’87 

Todd Olson, ’92, joined the National Guard in 1987, not only to help 

finance college, but because he felt it was his duty. “Todd was a very 

patriotic person,” says his wife, Nancy Olson. “He felt blessed to live here 

and felt a sense of duty to his country.” 

Olson’s National Guard unit, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, was 

mobilized June 2004, and deployed to Iraq in November following several 

months of training at Camp Shelby, Miss., and Fort Irwin, Calif. The battalion 

served for nearly a year in Samarra. The deployment of 680 soldiers represented 

the first overseas operational deployment for a Wisconsin Army National Guard 

combat arms unit since World War II. 

Olson was stationed at Patrol Base Casino in Samarra with around 100 

soldiers from Wisconsin, including UW-L alums Sean Bell; Justin Bomkamp, 

’06; Jason Spangler, ’04; and Jason Stratman. 

Patrol Base Casino, a three-story, split-level old hotel on the Tigris River, is 

about 60 miles north of Baghdad. Samarra is one of the four Islamic holy cities of 

continued on next page

A tile in Todd Olson’s honor will be placed in the Veterans Hall of Honor 

in the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex when it’s completed in 

2009. To find out more about the Veterans Hall of Honor, go to 

www.uwlax.edu/campaign/sportscomplex.html. To honor a veteran in 

the hall, contact Veterans Hall of Honor Campaign Coordinator Pat 

Stephens at 608.785.8153 or stephens.patr@uwlax.edu. 

Iraq. It has been a hotbed of fighting between the 

Iraqi resistance and U.S. military since the U.S. 

occupation of Iraq began in 2003. 

Spangler, who was also in the 128th Infantry 

Regiment and deployed with Olson, served there 

just under a year. Initially, they fixed the plumbing 

and electrical and “rebuilt the patrol base from the 

ground up,” he says. Their primary roles were to 

show a presence, gather information, conduct 

raids and protect the city — defensive and 

offensive postures helping assist local nationals in 

their resistance to Al-Qaeda, the international 

terrorist network led by Osama bin Laden. They 

worked mostly with Iraqi National Forces; police; 

the Public Order Battalion, a unit used for intercity 

policing and border enforcement; and the 

Ministry of Interior Commandos who conduct 

raids and capture terrorists and gather intelligence. 

Within a month of being there, Olson was hit 

by an improvised explosive device while he was 

the point man on a nighttime dismounted patrol 

Dec. 26, 2004. He died Dec. 27. Bell, who knew 

Olson for over a year, was Olson’s platoon leader 

and was leading the mission when Olson was 

killed. 

“Todd was an amazing man, a family man,” 

says Bell. “He was a father figure to me and a lot of 

men. He really looked out for the well-being of his 

men and did all he could to teach them lifelong 

lessons and important lessons for our tour in Iraq. 

He had the ability to make everyone laugh, even 

in the hardest times, and was very firm when he 

needed to be. He was a natural-born leader.” 

To honor Olson, the men pushed — and 

succeeded — to have Patrol Base Casino 

renamed Patrol Base Olson. Most patrol bases 

and forward operating bases are named after 

soldiers who were killed. Soldiers often wear 

bracelets in their honor. Bell has Olson’s name, 

rank and when and where he was killed tattooed 

on his left wrist. 

Although Olson’s death has been difficult for 

his friends and family, thankfulness and time have 

helped. 

“Todd was a good man and had a good life,” 

says Olson’s wife, Nancy. “That’s the way we’ve 

dealt with his death. We’re very thankful for 

people who are willing to serve,” says Nancy. “It’s 

a very selfless act. Living in the U.S. is like winning 

the lottery. Nobody else lives like this. It’s possible 

because of the vets who have served.” 

Nancy says it’s the job of the U.S. to make the 

world a safer place. “We have to look at the longterm 

effect, that people will help shape a more 

peaceful world,” she says. “That’s my hope, my 

prayer.” 

The Todd Olson 

File 

• Born Oct. 26, 1968, in Neillsville 

• Graduated from Loyal High School, 1987 

• Received bachelor of science in finance degree 

from UW-L, 1992 

• Enlisted in National Guard 1987, 1st Battalion, 

128th Infantry Regiment 

• Deployed to Iraq November 2004 

• Died Dec. 27, 2004 

• Military awards include The Bronze Star Medal and 

The Purple Heart 

• Wife: Nancy 

• Children: Trevor, Jesse, Cody, Kasey 

• Occupation: vice president and agricultural loan 

officer with M&I Bank of Neillsville. 

• Adult leader of Lutheran League youth group and 

school board member in Loyal 

• Past president of Loyal Lions Club and Loyal 

Chamber of Commerce 

• Founding board member and coach for the Loyal 

Pop Warner football program 

Within a month of being deployed to Iraq, Todd Olson, 

’92, was hit by an improvised explosive device while 

on patrol, not unlike the dismounted mission pictured 

above of a platoon leaving Patrol Base Olson in 

Samarra, Iraq. Read more about Patrol Base Olson at 

www.jeffemanuel.net/guided-tour-of-patrol-base-olson.

Winter Wonderland 

The beauty of Grandad Bluff, seen here after 

a fresh snowfall, remains special for every 

generation of students. 

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 

1725 State St. 

La Crosse, WI 54601 USA 

Attention: If the address label lists someone who no longer lives here, 

please send the correct address to: UW-L Alumni Office, 

1725 State St., La Crosse, WI 54601 USA. 

Production of the Alumnus is supported by a grant from the UW-La Crosse Alumni Association. 

Non-profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

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